Party Poker Blog

Sunday, February 17, 2008

My sister was lucky enough to meet Obama yesterday in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. To sum up her experience: charisma, the man has it.

I understand most of the problems people have with the man, and his supposed lack of experience.

I don't see this as a problem.

And for what it's worth, Obama made his bones in Chicago, working with the first black mayor in Chicago, Harold Washington, in the early 80's.

This American Life, the best damn radio show in the world, recently did their 20th anniversary show of Harold's death and took a look back at how he got elected and his legacy. Hit the link for the show.

Host Ira Glass reviews how black candidates have fared in white wards since Harold, with someone uniquely situated to know: David Axelrod, who was a political advisor to Harold Washington during Washington's second mayoral race and who is also chief political and media advisor to Illinois Senator (and Presidential candidate) Barack Obama.

Ira also checks in with Judge Eugene Pincham, ten years after their first interview.

Then, WBEZ Chicago reporter Robert Wildeboer goes out to several wards where Harold Washington did very poorly in the '80s, including one where he got less than one percent of the vote, to find out if a black man ran for mayor today, the same kinds of things would happen. (11 minutes)

I guess I just don't understand how people can think Hillary is more electable than Obama in the general election versus McCain.

The silent majority is everything in the general election.

In this case, I see it this way:

Hillary will bring people out to vote who have never voted before, to vote AGAINST her.

Obama will bring people out to vote who have never voted before, to vote FOR him.